Former resident (retirement) returning

[roberta]

After a year in UK I shall soon be ready to return to Thailand.  Unfortunately I was out of the country on the deadline for my last extension of Non-O visa, so I have to make a new application for a non-O visa and then for a one year extension.

Has anything change substantially in the last 12 months?  Without income, Is the requirement still  for a deposit of 800,000 Baht?  Do the funds still have to be in my Thai bank for 60 days before I can get my first extension?  I am thinking of transferring the money before I arrive there, if it could speed up the process.  If my money is in the bank a few weeks before I arrive there, would they count the 60 days from the day the money entered my account, or would I have to wait until at least 60 days after the date of my entry into the country?

 

Another point; I want to find a place to live in another province, but would like to get the immigration business sorted out first.  Can I get the visa and extension in Bangkok, and then move to another province?  This would be easier, as I don't quite know yet where I shall finally decide to live.

[ubonjoe]

Still 800k baht in the bank.

When you apply for a 90 day non immigrant visa (category O) entry at immigration the 800k baht only has to be in the bank on the date you apply. When you apply you will need to show proof the funds came from abroad. 

You can then apply for the extension of stay during the last 45 days of the 90 entry from the visa or when the 800k baht has been in the bank for 60 days.

If you are 65 or older and getting a state pension you could apply for a single entry non-o visa at the embassy in London by post or in person.

 

[Thailand J]

You can transfer the 800K ahead of you arrival. Everyday counts.

You can get the extension in BKK and move, but you must goto the immigration office near your new place within 24 hours to ask if you need to file form TM28 or TM30 .

[Tanoshi]

If your 65 and in receipt of a state pension you can obtain a 90 day single entry Non Imm O Visa from London.

Within the last 30/45 days of your 90 day permission to stay you can apply for an extension based on retirement.

The 800K must have been in a Thai bank for 2 months on the day of application.

 

Otherwise you could enter Thailand on a Visa exempt or Tourist Visa and apply for a Visa/change of Visa status to a Non Imm O at Immigration, then an extension. This process would take longer than if you could obtain a Non Imm O in the UK first.

[roberta]

Thanks to all for the above.  After applying for change of status from visa waiver to non-immigrant, I know that it takes 2 weeks to get the visa (if approved). I was hoping that, if my 800k had already been in the bank for more than 60 days on the day I receive the visa, I could apply immediately for an extension - but as pointed out, and as I had forgotten, I would anyway have to wait for 60 more days until into the last 30 days before the visa expires (or is it 45 days?  Which is it in Bangkok?).  

 

So I would have to stay in Bangkok for at least two months, and maybe more before I could receive the extension.  That raises have another question; if the Non Immigrant visa is issued in Bangkok, must I also apply for the extension there - or, if I have moved to another province already, can I go to Immigration there to apply?  Must the application for extension be made in the same province where the visa was originally issued?

 

My preferred plan is spend a couple of weeks in Bangkok to get the 90 day visa, and then start travelling in search of a place to live.  This will probably be be a long way from Bangkok, and I would like to avoid the long return trip back there to get my first extension.  In such case I would probably just stay in Bangkok until I can get the extension.  

[Tanoshi]

Another option would be to obtain a Tourist Visa from your local Thai Consulate in the UK.

That would allow you 60 day tour time to decide where you want to 'lay your hat'.

You can extend that 60 days by another 30 days if required.

 

You can apply for the Non Imm O (and subsequent extension) at the local Immigration office where you decide to live, provided you have at least 15 days permission to stay left. You don't have to do it in Bangkok.

[JackThompson]

On 5/23/2018 at 2:22 PM, roberta said:

as pointed out, and as I had forgotten, I would anyway have to wait for 60 more days until into the last 30 days before the visa expires (or is it 45 days?  Which is it in Bangkok?).  

 

On 5/23/2018 at 2:22 PM, roberta said:

My preferred plan is spend a couple of weeks in Bangkok to get the 90 day visa, and then start travelling in search of a place to live.  This will probably be be a long way from Bangkok, and I would like to avoid the long return trip back there to get my first extension.  In such case I would probably just stay in Bangkok until I can get the extension.  

 

The part that can be difficult, at some offices, is the initial Non-O.  Doing that in Bangkok, first, is a good idea - since they actually follow the "real rules" there, and won't force you out to an agent (bribe-laundry service), or simply refuse all together, as some offices have been reported to do.

 

Once you have the Non-O, you can do the retirement-extension at the office where you decide to live.  Note what was said above - notify them of your arrival via TM-30 within 24 hours of moving into a house, guesthouse or condo (hotels should do this for you).   This will avoid a fine, when you show up to do your 1-year extension.